We are in the process of buying 15 acres of gently rolling cow pasture. We will be building a house when ours sells but wanted some advice for mowing a pasture. Initially I had $15k ear marked for a tractor and planned to buy a used 30hp with a front end loader and a bush hog. Eventually I will want a box blade and other implements but that will work for now. I had figured that this was really my only way forward but two dealers said it might be doable to get a cheaper used tractor and bush hog and then a big ztr with suspension. That way it could handle the bumpier pasture and still cut faster than a tractor. What say ye?

Also, another thought is to plant a wildflower meadow and some trees here and there so there will be less to mow but it will not be so easy with a tractor. Eventually I might like to have chickens and a couple of cows. My daughter would love to have horses but we aint ready for all that yet.

Yes to cheaper used tractor in my opinion

Faster with a big zero turn diesel mower.

Ok to clarify you both think a cheap used tractor (likely means 2wd and no front end loader) and a monster ztr with suspension is the best option?

Do people mow pastures with lawn mowers these days? I did not know that.

I wouldn't have thought so until I went looking for tractors. I guess it could have just been sales tactics as they didnt have alot of used 30hp inventory that I was looking for. I've never owned this much property or a pasture so I figured I'd ask.

A zero turn is fast and yes it will cut a pasture if it is cut often. Get an estate mower for your tractor and a cheap riding lawn mower for around the house. A 30 hp tractor will be a lot cheaper in the used market than a new one. Mahindra may have the best price on new equipment. I would just buy a cheap mower from the big box store and get a good tractor with a 6 or 7 foot estate mower. Four wheel drive doesn't sound like a necessity for what you are doing. Most of the new tractors in that hp ared 4wd and they are a RUFF ride. I would get a 40 hp in a agricultural tractor. These are just a few of my opinions.

plant 11 in trees , two acre garden , two acre yard for house and shed . buy the tractor .

I would get a finishing mower and a bush hog for the tractor and skip the zero turn.

We cut my grandma's 17 acres of pasture with her 60 inch cut zero turn. Much faster than using a tractor

I have zero experience on a zero turn. I know they go fast, but I would think it still depends on how bumpy the ground is. If it is bumpy, I don't care how fast the machine goes, you won't be flying through it. I too, would look at a large finishing mower. A zero turn is good for one thing, cutting grass. A tractor will do much more with the right implements but may take a little longer to cut grass.

Let me get this straight, you talked to 2 different tractor guys who both pointed you in the direction of a zero turn? Boy, those are some good tractor salesmen.

Get the tractor and a 48" cut riding mower for around the house.

Now....the cost of the tractor. You can get a good, used 2wd 35hp and bush hog on your budget and possibly the loader. I just bought a 2004 Kubota L3430D, 4wd with 459hrs, cab, loader and bush hog for $18K and that's a steal for a low hour tractor equipped as it is. Craigslist has some good deals IF you go inspect and be very particular about what you buy

Another option might be a reconditioned Yanmar from Fredericks in just outside Decatur. I have a Yanmar YM3000 that I have severely abused and she'll start and do what I ask if her although with about 5K hours on her, she's getting weak.

Here's a link to one of their tractors that would serve you well and you'd come in under budget.....

http://www.fredricksoutdoor.com/yanmar-tractors/ym3110

It's not how fast you mow, it's how well you mow fast

Awesome, well played.


This is what I originally wanted and believe is the best option; just figured it best to ask those with experience and no sales stake in the game. I've found a couple of Kubota L2900s and a similar JD that each had less than 500 hours, power steering, 4wd and a front end loader. All in the $13k range one was manual and one hydostatic. Will also need to buy a 5 or 6 foot rotary cutter or finish mower.

I have a riding mower for around the house. Thanks for the advice y'all! Let me know if you have a smokin deal on a tractor, implements, or a 16-18ft trailer.

The real question is do you want 15 ac yard and no pasture or a 2 ac yard and a 13 ac pasture with grazing animals. You don't mow pastures or have flower meadows on a farm!

Yes much, much faster.

EDIT: I can go get on 3 different JD tractors and bush hog or I can get on a Kubota 60" zero turn and mow. I have cleaned up missed and rough looking spots in our front hay field many times. If I was in your shoes, 100% of the time I would chose the zero turn.

I like this idea......

I dont want a 15 acre turf yard. I'd rather have grazing animals but think it would be foolish to jump into raising something I have no experience with especially as I wont even have a house up there for at least a year.

Fence the land or if its already fenced get some goats and your grass and weed problem will be gone. If its really think then a zero turn will really be a bad idea. Get a tractor and a bushhog. You will always have a use for a tractor trust me on that.

Best idea I can come up with:

I don't know where the area you said you were moving is located but if it's in cattle farming country you could get someone to bale it for hay. Let them have it for free as long as they lime, fertilize and spray it. If they don't take care of it, fire em and let someone else do it that will take care of it.

If you do find someone who will take care of it, I would be up front with them about a timeline that you want to convert it to a pasture. If they go in and spend a bunch of money and you yank it out from under them, they're gonna get ill.